Scott trial to remain in county

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The murder trial of a Russellville woman accused of killing her six year-old son will be held in Franklin County.
Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey filed a ruling Friday that denied a defense attorney's motion to move Christie Michelle Scott's capital murder trial out of Franklin County.
"After consideration of the evidence presented at the hearing, including the poll, the court does not find the defendent has met its burden of proving that a jury could not be selected that would be fair and impartial to both sides in Franklin County," the order states.
Scott is accused of setting fire to her family's Signore Drive home in the early morning hours of Aug. 16. Her six year-old son, Mason Scott, died in the blaze.
Dempsey has instructed Circuit Clerk Anita Scott to summon 500 people for jury duty in this case in order to have a larger pool in which jurors will be selected.
"The usual amount [of jurors] is 200 per session," Dempsey said in his order.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said jury selections in the case is set to begin June 8 and two weeks have been scheduled for the trial.
"We look forward to presenting this case to a Franklin County jury, and let them decide the facts of the case," Rushing said.
Jury selection is expected to take more than one day since the court has to process a larger amount of potential jurors.
During the jury selection process, the court will ask whether the person can follow the court's instructions and set aside any preconceived information and whether the person can be fair to both sides of the case.
"If a sufficient number of persons are not available for selection after the challenged for causes are granted, then the court will entertain a renewed motion for change of venue at that point," the order states.
Scott, 32, of Russellville, has been in police custody since her indictment of three alternating counts of capital murder in September.